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What is Hepatitis C?

“Hepatitis C” refers to inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood and fights infections. If inflamed or damaged its function can be severely affected. 14, 15

Hepatitis C can be caused by a number of factors, like viruses (Hepatitis B and C virus), alcohol abuse and large doses of certain medications. 16

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a virus (called HCV) that infects the liver. Acute Hepatitis C occurs in the first 6 months after a person is infected. Approximately 25% of people with acute HCV recover completely during this time. Acute infection can range in severity from very mild illness with few or no symptoms, to serious conditions that may require hospitalization. 14, 16, 17

About 75% of people suffering with acute HCV tend to develop long-term or chronic HCV. Unless successfully treated, chronic HCV can lead to liver cirrhosis (scarring), liver cancer and liver failure. 17

Stages of liver disease?

How common is Hepatitis C infection in India?

Approximately 1 in 100 persons in India are likely to acquire Hepatitis C infection. It is estimated that 2,88,000 new HCV infections occurred in India in 2014. Nearly 96,000 people die annually in India due to Hepatitis C, which has become a hidden epidemic according to a WHO report titled, 'Global policy report on prevention and control of viral Hepatitis'. The prevalence of HCV infection in India is up to 1% of the total population of 1.2 billion. 18, 19, 20, 21

Who is at risk of developing Hepatitis C?

Received a blood transfusion before 2001, when blood was not routinely tested for Hepatitis C or other infections

Were born to a mother who had Hepatitis C (There are 6% chances of HCV being transmitted from mother to child)

Are tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools that were used on an infected person

Are accidentally stuck with a needle that was used on an infected person

Use an infected person’s razor or toothbrush

Have ever been on hemodialysis

Have ever worked or been housed in a prison

Rarely, sexual transmission of Hepatitis C is possible

What are the common symptoms of Hepatitis C infection?

Only 15–30% of patients infected with the virus usually experience any symptoms. If symptoms appear, they do so within 5 to 12 weeks of HCV exposure, and last for about 2 to 12 weeks. 23Symptoms may include: 24, 25

How does one know if one has Hepatitis C infection?

a. A test that checks the blood for antibodies, i.e. proteins made by the immune system in response to the virus.

b. A test that checks for a substance called Ribo Nucleic Acid (RNA) made by the virus itself.

Most people who have a negative antibody test do not have Hepatitis C infection and don’t need additional screening tests. 14, 15, 16

Reference

14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HEPATITIS C [Internet]. Atlanta, Georgia, United States: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2015 [updated 2015; cited 2015 March 22]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/PDFs/HepCGeneralFactSheet.pdf

18 Pankaj Puri et al. Consensus Statement of HCV Task Force of the Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL). Part I: Status Report of HCV Infection in India. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology. 2014; 4(2): 106–116

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